Veterans Affairs committee  We did a search on Assystnet too—

Veterans Affairs committee  —to make sure that there weren't deletions, and we did not find deletions.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I'll indicate that those are the additional surge resources, which are there for the backlog. There's a commitment, through to fiscal year 2023-24, for those who are working on service excellence. There's a commitment, through 2024-25, with respect to case management.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thanks, Mr. Chair. The short answer is, yes, there are extensive discussions going on, both within the department and with other parts of government that are equally challenged with reporting on and tracking data. In addition to the investment around personnel, the department is making significant investment around automation and digitization, as well as process improvements.

Veterans Affairs committee  She was a service agent.

Veterans Affairs committee  We'll ask Steven to do that.

Veterans Affairs committee  If I could, Mr. Chair, to the member's question, we have not sent out a specific request to every veteran in the country asking them to come forward as a result of this. However, given the attention of this at committee and given the attention through the media—quite rightly, given the significance of this—I think it's been very clear that if anyone has had this experience, we've asked them to come forward.

Veterans Affairs committee  Previous to the unrolling of this contract, there were two contracts. One focused on medical and psychosocial, and one focused on vocational. This new contract is a single contract where all of these converge. What that does is allow a veteran to have one plan that addresses all of those areas.

Veterans Affairs committee  The minister is correct. The current ratio is 30:1, Mr. Chair. That is an improvement. We've been seeking to improve the ratio. We know that our target is 25:1, so we are not at the target, but we are getting closer to that. It's really important, as has been underlined by the minister in testimony, that we allow case managers to spend more time with their veterans.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I can say that no veteran was denied service during that period of time. Any veteran who came forward with a need for service—mental health, psychosocial supports—was provided with those services. That communication was about the transfer of files.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thanks. Mr. Chair, on these kinds of issues, we absolutely don't want to lose service providers. We are reliant on those service providers to meet the needs of veterans at every level and through every advantage that we have in terms of supports for veterans. In some cases, where information is being sought, we do have to do a review on the privacy element of this.

Veterans Affairs committee  We will correct those forms. The whole idea is to increase the number of service providers, especially geographically and on that expertise level.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thanks, Mr. Chair. To respond to the questions that have been raised.... As indicated at the last appearance before the committee, 402,000 unique veterans' files have been reviewed for any specific reference with regard to MAID being raised inappropriately with a veteran—402,000 unique files.

Veterans Affairs committee  It is of course possible, through a disciplinary process, to terminate an employee, particularly around misconduct and particularly around a series of misconduct. The union has been engaged through the disciplinary process, but it is standard practice that the union would have representation alongside the employee through that process.